Mining machine



Sept. 6, 1932. c, OSGOQD 1,875,351

MINING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1930- '2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 6, 1932. c,OSGQOD 1,875,351

MINING MACHINE Filed uarcn'al, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 U/zarlasl? 0490063.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 PATENT OFFICE; g

uivrrim ST -res" CHARLES E. oseoon' or CLARE ONTQNEW. HAMPSHIRE,ASSIGNOR 'ro SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTSMINING MACHINE i Application filed March 31, 1930. Serial No. 440,809.

' an improved mining machine feeding mechanism. Another object is toprovide an improved flexible feed ng means for a coal mining machine ofthe continuous cutter, bottom cutting type. A further object is toprovide an improved flexiblefeeding means for a mining machine adaptedto operate in accordance with the usual room and pillar practice whereinrelatively rotatable feeding members respectively cooperate with advanceand receding flexible feeding elements in the feeding and guiding of themachine across the coal face. A still further "object is to pro vide ina feeding mechanismof the aforesaid character a separate anddi'stinctplural speed transmission mechanism for each feed mem ber whereby thelatter may be rotated in winding direction either separately orsimultaneously at relatively high speed or at rela tively low speedor-may'rotate inunwinding direction under various degrees of frictionalresistance or freely as conditions may require. Yet another object is toprovide a separate and distinct plural speed planetary transmission foreach of the feed members, the planetary transmission mechanisms and feedmembers being arranged in a novel and improved manner on the machine. 1These and other objects of th s invention will, however, hereinaftermore fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown one form which the inventionmay assume in practice. I

In these drawings,

Fig. 1-is a plan view of a coal mining machine having embodied thereinan illustrative form of the improved flexible feeding mechanism. V

2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, with partsshown in plan,illustrating the improved flexible feeding mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinally extending vertical sectional viewtaken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4% is a detail sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 ofFig. 2 and illustrating one of the planetary transmission mechanisms. I

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view takensubstantially on line 5-5 of Fig.3, with parts omitted to facilitate illustration.

As illustrated inthe drawings, the improved flexible feeding mechanismis shown embodied in a coal mining machine of the flexibly fed, room andpillar type whichgenerally comprises a low compact machine frame or body1 slidable on its bottom 2'over the mine bottom and having projectingforwardly therefrom a horizontal plane cutterbar 3 carrying on itsmargin a cutter bit carrying cutter chain 4 of a usual design. Arrangedat the opposite sides of the rear end of the machine frame'are feedoperating and con: trolling members 5 and 6 herein in the form of cablewinding or haulage drums respectively cooperating with feed andcontrolling cables 7 and 8. Carried centrally of the machine frame is amotor 9 having itspower shaft horizontally disposed and extendinglongitudinally of the machine frame and operatively connected at itsforward end, through usual driving connections, to the cutter chain 4.The rear end of the motor is operatively connected to the feed drums 5and 6 in an improved manner as hereinafter described. Arranged at therear end of the machine frame are guide sheaves 10, 11, 12, and 13,while attached at the opposite sides of the front end of the machineframe are similar guide sheaves 14 and .15, and the feed cables areadapted to pass around any preferred guide sheaves during the variousoperations of the machine in the manner well understood in the miningmachine art.

Now referring to the improved driving connections between the rear endof the motor and the feed drums 5 and 6, it will herein be noted thatfixed to the rear end of the motor shaft 16 is a spur pinion 17 drivingthrough an intermediate gear 18 a spur gear 19 fixed to a horizontallongitudinally extending shaft 20 suitably journaled within thefeedframe section 21. Fixed to this shaft isa worm 22 meshing with aworm wheel 23 which drives, as willhereinafter bedescribed, throughseparate, plural speed planetary transmission mechanisms the feed drums5 and 6, these planetary mechanisms being generally designated 24 and25-respectively. The planetary mechanism 24 is adapted to effect aplural predetermined speed drive under frictional control .of acoaxially arranged horizontal shaft 26 extending transversely of themachine and suitably ournaled within the feed frame section 21. Fixed tothis shaftis aspur pinion 27 meshing with van internal .gear .28 securedto the feed drum 6. The planetary transmission mechanism 25 drivesinn-similar manner a shaft 29 alined with the shaft 26 and similarlyjournaled' within the feed frame section. This shaft likewise has fixedthereto a spur pinion 3l'meshing with an internal gear 32 secured to thefeed drum 5. Each of the "feed drums -is journaled on a shaft 33 formedintegral with a detachable side plate 34 securedto the vertical sidewall o'fthe machine and is rotatablysupported on this shaft byantifriction bearings 35 and maintained against displacement from theshaftbysuitable retaining devices 36.

As the planetary transmission mechanisms 24 and 25 are generally of thesame construction, the description of one will suflice for both. Nowreferring to thespecific structure of the planetary transmissionmechanism 24, it will be noted that the worm wheel -23 -is keyed at 37to a sleeve 38 carryingat itsouter end ,a driving pinion 39. The sleeve38 is journaled uponaibus'hing 40 which surrounds the enlarged inner end41 of the shaft 26. A

' bushing 42 surrounds the sleeve 38 immediately at one side of the wormwheel 23. An annular casing 43 is rotatably mounted-on the exterior ofthe bushing 42 and has a bearing thereon intermediate the worm wheel 23and the gear39. The hub of this casing .is journaled within asuitablebearing supported by an upstanding :bearingbracket formed integral.Withthe feed frame section. The casing 43 comprises a web portion '44and a cylin-. drical portion 45 having a suitable friction band 46 onits outer periphery for controlling the rotation of the" casing. Mountedwithin the casing and concentrictherewith is a ring-shaped cage 47 inwhich is carried a plurality of planetary gear pairs 48 (three setsbeing present'but only one shown) rotatable on suitable pins 49 mountedat their ends in the lateral faces of the cage. Each of'the members ,48comprises two pinions '50, 51 connectedtogether so as to rotate as asingle unit. "The pinion 50 of each planetary gear unit has a pitchdiameter largerthan its companion pinion 51 and is meshed with the'drivinggear 39. An internalgear ring 52 is arranged within the casing43' and 'lreyed as indicated at .53 to rotate therewith. I Said internalgear meshes with pinions 50 of the planetary gear units. .Adjacent theinternal gear .52 is a second internal gear 54 free to turn in thecasing 43. This internal gear has the gearing therein.

retaining ring 57 is attached to the periphery ofthe. casing 43 by meansof suitable bolts ..58. and engages the outer. face of the ring to forman oil and dust proof enclosure for The high speed connection to theshaft 26 comprises an annular 'clutchring 59 seated within the cage 47and keyed thereto. This clutch ring is provided with a plurality ofinwardly extending clutch jaws 60 adapted to engage with outwardlyextending clutch jaws 61 carried by a clutch member '62 slidablelongitudinall-y'of the shaft 26. The-clutch member 62-is splined toconnectionand the-clutch member 55 of the low speedco'nnectionL Thedriving connec tion with the 'high speed and low speed connectionsismadeby shifting the clutch member 62to the left or right ofits neutralposition. to the outer face of the end platej55 adjacent the clutc'hmemberto form a closure between the end plate 55 and the clutch member62. The friction band 46 maybe of any suitable design and is controlledby apair of nut 1ne1nbers .67 attached to the opposite ends of the brakeband and internally threaded with threads of opposite inclination andcooperating with oppositely threaded screw portions 68 upon an inclinedoperating shaft 69 suitably rotatably mounted within theend wall of thefeed frame section. Attached to the upper end of this operating shaft isa hand wheel 70. The planetary transmission mechanism 25 for the feeddrum "5 provided with similar clutch mechanism 71 having an operatinghandle 72 and a similar brake mechanism 73 having an operating handwheel '74 conveniently arranged adjacent the operating members and ofthe trans mission mechanism 24.

The operation of the mechanism for effectin g rotation at differentspeeds of the shaft 26 may now be described. High speed drive of thisshaft takes place through tl e pinion 39, planetary gears 50, cage 47,clutch ring 59 andclutch member 62. When the clutch member 62 engagesthe-clutch ring 59 the pinion'39 rotatesthe planetary gearsabout theirrespective axes-and as the latter are meshed A second retaining ring 66is attached l es with the internal gear 52 keyed to the casing 43 theywill either rotate this c'asin'g,if the brake band 46 is loose, in thedirection opposite to the direction of rotationof the pinion they aremounted.

39, or if the friction band 46 is tightened, undergo orbital motionthemselvesabout the axis of the pinion 39 and carry. with them at anequal angular rate the cage 47 on which The cage 47 will of courserotate at a rate less than the rate of angular rotation of the pinion39. The clutch ring 59 being keyed to the cage 47 will be carriedthereafter and in turn may be connected to the shaft 26 by means of theclutch member 62. When a slow speed rotation of the shaft 26 is desired,the clutch.62 will beshifted'to the right and low speed driving willthen take place through gearing as follows: pinion 39, planetarygears 50and 51, internal gear 54, end plate 55, clutch member 56 and clutchmember 62. Under these circumstances there will be a compound epicyclicreduction and the shaft 26 will be rotated at a slow'speed in thesamedirection it previously turned at a high speed.

The planetary transmission mechanism 25 operates in asimilar manner andit will thus be seen that upon suitable control -of the clutch devicesand brake bands the feed drums 5 and 6 may be driven in windingdirection either separately or simultaneously atv relatively highhaulage speed or at rela tively low speed appropriate for cutting. Itwill also be noted that under certain conditions either of thefeed-drums may rotate in unwinding direction under various degrees offrictional resistance under the control of the brake bands 46 or withoutsuch resistance upon release of these brake bands.- As the general modeof operation of a room and pillar mining machine is well-known in theart, and as the operation of the improved transmission mechanism for thefeed drums has been clearly described above, further description of theoperation of the machine is thought unnecessary. I i

While there is in this application specifi cally described one formwhich this invention may assume in practive, it will be understood thatthis form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and. thatthe invention may be modified and embodied in various other formswithout departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatable.feed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and separate and distinct motor driven driving connections forsaid feed members including a plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanism for each member, said planetary transmissionmechanisms being arrangedon alined axes.

2. Amining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and separate and dis tinct motor driven driving connections forsaid feed members including a plural predeermined speed planetarytransmission mechanism for each member, said planetary trans missionmechanisms being arranged on alined horizontal axes. l

3. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate di ectly with flexible feedingmeans, and separate and distinct motor driven driving connections forsaid feed members including a plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanism for each member, said planetary transmissionmechanisms being" arranged on alined horizontal axes extendingtransversely of the machine.

4. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted t'o'cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, a motor, and separate and distinct driving connections be tweensaid motor and each of said feed members including a pluralpredetermined. speed planetary transmission mechanism for each memberdisposed on a horizontal axis, said planetary transmission mechanismseach having a single friction controlling device forcontrolling thedrive through its different speeds.

.5. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate-directly with flexible feedingmeans, a motor, and separate and distinct driving connections betweensaid motor and each of said. feed members including a pluralpredetermined speed planetary transmission mechanism for each memberdisposed on a horizontal axis. said planetary transmission mechanismseach including a shiftable clutch device for selectively effectingdifferent speeds,

6."-A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans. a motor, and separate and distinct driving connections betweensaid motor and each of said feed members including a pluralpredetermined members arranged in coaxial relationand each adapted tocooperate directly with flexinc iio

ible feeding means, a motor, and a separate and distinct drivlngconnectlon between said motor and each of said members moluding a pluralpredetermined speed planetary trans mission mechanism for each member,said planetary transmission mechanisms being arranged on axes parallelto a line parallel to said feed member axes.

8. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, a motor, and a separate and distinct driving connection betweensaid motor and, each of said members including a plural predeterminedspeed planetary transmission mechanism for each member, said planetarytransmission mechanisms being arranged on alined axes parallel to a lineparallel to the feed member axes.

9. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to-cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, a motor, and separate and distinct driving connections betweensaid motor and each of'said feed =mem-' bers includinga pluralpredetermined speed planetary transmission mechanism for each memberdisposed on a horizontal axis, each transmission mechanism including asingle clutch element slidable in opposite directions to effectCllITGIEHlJ 'S OQGdS.

10. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, motor, and separate and distinct driving connections be tweensaid motor and each of said feed members including a pluralpredetermined speed planetary transmission mechanism for each memberdisposed on a horizontal axis, each transmission mechanism including asingle clutch'element arranged in axial alinement with the planetarymechanism and slidable in opposite directions to effect differentspeeds.

11. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members disposed on horizontal axes and each adapted to cooperatedirectly with flexible feeding means, a motor, a gear driven by saidmotor, and separate and distinct plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanisms one individual to each member and both driven bysaid gear.

12. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, a motor, a Worm driven thereby, a worm wheel-driven by said worm,and separate and distinct plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanisms one individual to each feed member and bothdriven by said worm wheel.

13. A mining machine feeding mechanism inf/5,851

comprising relatively rota-table feed'membel's each adapted to cooperatedirectly with flexible feeding means, a motor, a gear driven thereby,and separate and distinct plural predetermined aspeed planetarytransmission'mechanisms one individual to each member, each frictionallycontrolled at all speeds and both coaxial with and driven by said gear.

14. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to -.-cooperate directly with flexible.feeding means, a motor, a worm driven-thereby, a worm wheel meshingtherewith, and separate and distinct plural predetermined s'p'eedplanetary transmission mechanisms one individual to each member, eachfrictionally controlled at-all speeds and bothdriven by said worm Wheel.

'15. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible. feedingmeans, awmotor, a gear rotatable on a horizontal transversely extendingaxis, and separate and distinct plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanisms one individual to each member and both drivenbysaid gear.

16. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexi'ble feedingmeans, a motor, a Worm rotatable on a'horizontal axis, a wormwheelmesh-ing therewith, and separate and distinct' plural predeterminedspeed transmission mechanisms one individual to each memberand bothdriven bysaid worm wheel.

17 A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, a motor, a gear rotatable on a horizontal transversely extendingaxis, and separate and distinct plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanisms one individual to each member, each frictionallycontrolled at all speeds and both driven by said gear."

18. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, a motor, a worm rotatable on a horizontal axis, a worm wheelrotatable on a horizontal axis and driven by said Worm, and separate anddistinct plural predetermined speed transmission mechanisms oneindividual to each feed member and both driven by said Worm wheel.

19. A mining machine feeding mechanism, relatively rotatable feedmembers disposed on horizontal axes and each adapted to cooperatedirectly with flexible feeding means, a motor, and separate and distinctplural speed driving connections between said motor and each of saidmembers and including a planetary transmission mechanism for Mill eachmember, each transmission mechanism lncludmg arotatable casing, a brakeband for controlling casing rotation, and a, shiftable' on horizontalaxes and each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means,

a motor, and separate and distinct plural speed driving connectionsbetween said motor and each of said members and including a planetarytransmission mechanism for each member, each transmission mechanismincluding a rotatable casing, a brake band for controlling casingrotation, a rotatable cage mounted in said casing and carrying planetarygears, and a shiftable clutch for selectively effecting differentspeeds.

21. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, relatively rotatable feedmembers of the same size and diameter and rotatable at like peripheralspeeds, said members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeeding means, a motor, a gear driven by said motor, and separate anddistinct plural predetermined speed transmission mechanisms oneindividual to each member and both coaxial with and driven by said gear,each transmission mechanism including a frictionally controlled reactionmember for controlling all speeds and adapted to be held stationary orfreely rotate at will.

22. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, relatively rotatable feedmembers of the same size and diameter and rotatable at like peripheralspeeds, said members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeeding means, a motor, a worm driven thereby, a worm wheel driven bysaid worm, and separate and distinct plural predetermined speedtransmission mechanisms one individual to each feed member and bothdriven by said worm wheel.

23. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and separate and distinct motor driven driving connections forsaid feed members including a plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanism for each member, said planetary transmissionsbeing arranged on horizontal axes.

24. A mining machine feeding mechanism comprising relatively rotatablefeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and separate and distinct motor driven driving connections forsaid feed members including a plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanism for each member, said planetary transmissionmechanisms being arranged on horizontal axes extending transversely ofthe machine.

25. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, relatively rotatable feedinmembers disposed on horizontal axes exten ing transversely ofthe'ma'chine and each adapted to cooperatedirectly with flexible feedingmeans, and sep arate and distinct motordriven driving connections forsaid feeding membersincludinga plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanism for each member whereby'said members may berotated either separatelyor simultaneously at either of two speeds, I IT '26. In a mining machine feeding'mechanism, relativelyrotatable-feeding members disposed on horizontal axes extendingtransversely of the machine and each adapted to cooperate directly withflexible feeding means, and separate and distinct motor driven drivingconnections for said feed members including a plural predetermined speedplanetary transmission mechanism for each member whereby said membersmay be rotated either separately or simultaneously at either of twospeeds, said planetary mechanisms being arranged generally on horizontalaxes parallel to a line parallel to the feed member axes. I

27. In a mmlngmachine feeding mechanism, relatively rotatable feeding,members disposed on horizontal axes extending transversely of themachine and each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and separate and distinct motor driven driving connections forsaid feed members including a plural predetermined speed planetarytransmission mechanism for each member wherebysaid members may be ro-.tated either separately or simultaneously at either of two speeds,each-of said planetary mechanisms includinga rotatable reaction membercontrolling the drive at both speeds,

and a brakeband fox-"controlling rotation of said reaction member.

28. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relativelyrotatablevfeed members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeeding means, a motor, separate and distinct .plural predeterminedspeed transmission mechanisms one individual to each member, and drivingconnections between said motor and said transmissionmechanisms includinga gear coaxial with said transmis sion, mechanisms and driving bothofthe same. n a

29. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeedingmeans and motor operated devices for driving said members eitherseparately'or simultaneously in a direction to draw in their respectiveflexible feeding means at relatively high speed or atrelatively lowspeed including a motor shaft, a horizontal shaft extendinglongitudinally of the machine and driven by said motor shaft, atransverse shaft driven by said longitudinal shaft,

and separate and distinct plural predeterwhereby saidxshafts may beindependently .130. Acmining machine feeding mechanism includingrelatively rotatable feeding mem bers each adapted to cooperate directlywith flexible feeding means, and motor operated devices for drivlng saidmembers ei'ther sepa- Qmi'ned speed transmission mechanisms one indrivenat a wide range of speeds between zero dividualto each member andbothdriven by and a predetermined maximum. said transverse shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflixmysignature.

CHARLES F. OSGOOD.

ratel'y or simultaneously in a direction to draw in their respectiveflexibl'eafeeding means atfrelativ'ely' high speed or at relatively lowspeed including alined shafts one connected to each member, and aseparate and distinct" plural predetermined speed plane'- tarytransmission mechanism for each shaft.

31. mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding. members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexiblefeeding means, and motor operated devices for driving said memberseither separately or simultaneously in a direction. to draw in theirrespective flexible feeding means at, relatively high speed or atrelatively low speed including alined horizontal shafts one, connectedto each member, and a separate and distinct plural predetermined speedplanetary transmissionmechanism for each shaft. 7

32. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatablefeeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and motor operated devices for driving said members eitherseparately or simultaneously in. a direction to draw in their respectiveflexible feeding means at relatively highspeed or at relatively lowspeed including alined horizontal shafts extending transversely'of themachine one connected to each member, and a separate I and distinctplural predetermined speed planetary transmission mechanism for eachshaft. I v p p 33. A mining machine feeding mechanism includingrelatively rotatable feeding members rotating on horizontal axes andeach adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, andseparate and distinct plural speed transmission mechanisms oneindividual to each member, each operative to provide a plurality ofpredetermined speeds and also including speed varying means whereby saidmembers may be independently driven at a wide range of speeds betweenzero and a predetermined maximum.

34. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rota-tablefeeding means rotating on horizontal axes and each adapted to cooperatedirectly with flexible feeding means, ali-ned shafts one connected toeach member, and separate and; distinct plural speed transmissionmechanisms one individual to each shaft and each operative to provide aplurality of predetermined! speeds and also including speed varyingmeans

